and gone to live up the hollow a small piece from maw, and even then
she were complaining of a leetle scum over her eyes. Losing Evy,
and rebelling like she done atterward, and Uncle Joshuay's talk,
holp it along fast, and it were plain to all before winter were over
that he had prophesied right, and her sight were a-going. I would
come down the branch of a morning and beg her to let me milk the cow
and feed the property and red up the house and the like, but she
would refuse in anger, and stumble round over chairs and table and
bean-pot and wash-kittle, and maintain all spring and summer her
sight were as good as ever. Never till that day of the funeral
occasion, one year atter Evy died, did she ever give in."

Here Marthy again covered her face with her hands, and Mrs. Chilton
took up the tale:

"I can see her now, up thar on the hill-shoulder, betwixt you and
John on the front log, by Evy's grave-house, and Uncle Joshuay
a-hollering and weeping and denouncing like he does, and her setting
through it like a rock. Then finally Uncle Joshuay he thundered at
her the third time, 'Hain't it the truth, Sister Dalmanuthy, that
the judgment and the curse of God has fell on you for your
rebelliousness, like I prophesied, and that you hain't able to see
John thar or Marthy thar or the hand thar before your face thar?'
when Aunt Dalmanuthy riz up sudden, and clinched her hands, and says
slow and fierce: 'Man, it _is_ the truth you speak. The curse _has_
fell; and I hain't able to see John here or Marthy here or the hand
here before my face here. But listen what I got to say about it.
I'm able to hate and to curse as good as God. And I do! I hate and
curse the Hand that, after taking all else I loved, snatched from my
bosom the one little yoe lamb I treasured thar; I hate and curse Him